Armenian genocide commemoration events scheduled citywide

Several events commemorating the anniversary of the Armenian genocide will be held in Glendale over the next several days.

The genocide resulted in the murder of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Turks from 1915 to 1918.

The main local event of the week will be a city-sponsored Armenian genocide commemoration ceremony at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd.

The 90-minute event will feature several traditional Armenian dance and musical performances by local students.

The keynote speaker will be Micheline Aharonian Marcom, who has published four novels, including a trilogy, about the Armenian genocide and its aftermath in the 20th century.

Free tickets, with a limit of four per person, are available online at www.alextheatre.org, at the concierge desk at the Americana at Brand or at Glendale Community College.

Other events will be held earlier in the week.

On Sunday, the Armenian National Committee of America – Glendale will hold its eighth annual blood drive in commemoration of the genocide from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Mary’s Armenian Church, 500 S. Central Ave.

An event called “Remembrance and Reflection will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ark Family Center Inc., 135 S. Jackson St., Suite 102.

A recording of a live performance by comedian Vardan Petrosyan, who takes his own perspective on the genocide, will be shown. It will be followed by a discussion of the psychological effects of the genocide on the current generation.